The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-02

mite postponement Of NJ Patton's bill to repeal
the law permitting county commissioners to send
two students to Purdue University.
Mr.. Osborn stated the objects Of the univer-
sity and the sources from which it drew its sup
plies. and then moved the previous question, but
withdrew the motion at the request of Mr.. Pat
ton, who then spoke for some time, claiming that
Purdue was not State institution, and charg-
ing that it was run in the interest of a corpora
ton and of the people of Tippecanoe county.
The r. port of the committee was concurred IN.
Afternoon Session.
The special order for 2 o'clock was the civil
service bill of Mr. Griffiths. on which majority
report of the committee favored its passage,
while the minority recommended its indefinite
postponement Mr.. Griffiths said the BILL in his
judgment, is one of ne most important that will
come before this booy. It does not concern any
section alone, but affects all the interests in the
State. The belief in the necessity for civil
service reform is so deep-roo ted that its defend
ers cannot be longer referred to as visionary
cannot be questioned have been impelled to the
advocacy of the cvilservice reform by reason of
the abuse Of the spoils system. 1t has been tax
en- out Of the region OF speculation and doubt
into that of certainty. It has been adopted in
Great Britain and most Of the continental coun-
tries. notably France and Germany, and by our
national government. No good reason can be
suggested why it should not he applied
Men and women should be chosen
for their personal worth and tested ability, and
not as a reward for uncompromising partisan
ship. Under civil service reform the affairs OF
this State would be administered most efficient
| ly and from the lowest to the highest they
woald feel that they were the trustees of an ex-
press ustuaccording to their abilities.
The doctrine that to the vctors belong the
spoils has led more to corruption than all other
| agencies combined. Until this reform is
| complished the question will be not how we
| shall carry this or that good measure, but how
we shall carry this or that set of men into Office.
| He had been told that not a single member OF
| the Democratic party in this house or IN the
Senate would support the measure. If that be
| true SO much the worse for the Democratic
party. He did not believe it, FOR he had it in the
| solemn declarations of principles of the Republic
/ can and Democratic parties upon this very ques-
| ton. In 1872 the Democratic party
declared in its national platform in favor of civ
il-service reform. In 1876 it declared that reform
| was necessary IN the civil service. Again, in
1880 and 1884 it declared in its favor. The ques-
| zion of civil-service reform should not divide
itself into party question He regarded 1t as
exceedingly significant that the minority report
| should be signed by every Democrat on the COM
! mittee, and the majority report by every Re-
| publican. Civil-servce reform, from the Demo
cratic point of view, is like the snowflake on the
| river, for q moment seen then lost forever
| Certainly no Republican member of this House
should vote against this bin, for the reason that
| in the platform of 1876 the Republican party
declared in favor of the reform. If
| we have civil service in Indiana it
| will never happen that a man will be recon-
mended to a responsible position who has served
three terms in the penitentiary, and is Endorsed
| by his party man who has always been at
the polls early and late, and has never asked for
a position before Probably he had never been
out of the penitentiary long enough to do it.
He was opposed to the spols system because
the very name is odious. 1t pays no respect to
| the rights of women, much less of men.
! ed or
but was opposed to the bill. He regarded it as
! a partisan measure-one that would obstruct
| the work of reform which the Democrat has
almost accomplished ia this State. His belief
was that the Democratic party alone favored
civil service in its true meaning
Mr. Foster spoke in favor of partisan rule,
He was opposed to civilservice reform as in
| competible with the political system of the
| country The good thst had been done in Office
was due to party vigilance and party struggles
Mr.. Stubbleheld said as stump speaking is in
order. he would like to say word He did not
wish to be understood saying that this is not
| a very important question, for it certainly is
He would no doubt, in his argument. DE like
MIR. Foster, who has gone all around Robin
Hoods barn. But" he remarked, II expect to
get back TO night This is the first Office have
had. have always been a candidate. If was
| the President of the United States of America
which l now think l may probably be, would
select my appointees from the Republican
| party.
Mr.. Crosse favored the bill for the reason tha
it is not unreasonable in it's requirements, that
the men to fill the positions affected by the bill
should be able to read and write should know
north from south. and should not be taken from
those who have been IN the penltentiary. Ii
answer to the argument of Mr.. Gordon that dur
| ing the twenty-five years of Republican admin
istration the party had done very little for civil
service reform. be replied that when the Repub
| licans took the government from the Democracy
they had more important duties to perform. HI
| referred TO the days of 61 when we had al
| empty treasury, and the bayonets of the enem,
were close to the very seat of the government
/ Mr.. Jewett thought the bill was not at all
political measure, that it only provided for
board of civil -service examiners, who to re
/ ceive SIS per day and expenses. and to have
secretary appointed for them While hearth.
in favor of civil-service reform in the true mean
i discussion, believing that it was impracticabl
4 and unjust. He denounced the national civil
service reform law as applying to the subordinat
clerks, few small postoice officials and the scru
| | women at Washington. 1t should affect tn
! higher officials who have the appointing powe
| in the government.
, Mr. Linck favored the bin as one that woul
, raise the benevolent institutions out of poitica
work Applicants for position under such
law will be chosen for efficiency, not for war
service in the interest of party. The minorit
report on a call of the yeas and nays was subst
, t3ted for that of the majority, thus indefnitel
postponing the bill. Groves Kline, Trout, Stub
blefield and Mackey Republicans, voted for tn
substitution, while Robinson and Oursler. Demo
Gratis, voted against it. The result was 40 yeas
: as nays A motion to reconsider the vote and I
lay that melton on the table was defeated-yea
"a, nays AZ. Pending reconsideration of til
vote the minority report the House adjourned
. THE CITY IN BRIEF.